Device for automatically delivering articles.



N. R. STILES.

DEVIGE FOR AUTOMATICALLY DELIVERING ARTIGLES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 29,1909.

958,559. Patented May 17, 1910. 4

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DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY DELIVERING ARTICLES.

7 APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1909. 95 ,559, Patented May 17, 1910.

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DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIGALLYDELIVERING ARTIGLES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 29, 1909.

Patented May 17, 1910.

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JVoeL Ray StL'Leb';

(in k NOEL an swims, or LONDON, aroma DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLYDELIVERING ARTICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented May 17, 1910.

Application filed Kay 29, 1909. Serial No. 499,162.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, Noni. RAY Sauce, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and residing at 34 Leadenhall street, London, E. (1, England,have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Devicesfor Automatically Delivering Articles, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for deliveringarticles automat icallyfrom a container and is specially applicable forthe delivery of cigarettes and the like from a cigarette container.Devices of this character as hitherto proposed have been unreliable inpractice usually on account of the faulty feeding means to the elementwhich selects the articles to be presented. v

-The object of the present invention is to provide an improved deviceofthe above mentioned character in which the selection and presentationof the articles is effected with great reliability.

The invention consists in an automatic presenting device comprising anarticle container, a cradle and means for raising the 'cradleup throughthe container so as to select and lift an article into position forengagement by a receiving element.

The invention consists in an automatic presenting device having anarticle con-' tainer with a bottom sloping toward a slot in which acradle is 'slidable vertically and is adapted to be raised a suitabledistance up through the container, said device supporting a. body havinga pair of receiving prongs which move toward the article and havingmeans for opening the prongs to receive said article from the cradle andmeans for raising the body to a suitable position to present thearticle.

The invention further consists in'the improved device heieinafterdescribed for presenting cigarettes or the like.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a side elevationof the device as applied to a cigarette presenting device. Fig. 2 is aplan View of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the device with theback of the chest removed. Figs. i and 5 are elevations of the .devicewith the side of the chest removed showin the delivery mech-- anism invarious positions. Fig. 6 isa'section on the line AA of Fig. 2 when themechanism is int-he position shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section on theline B B of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a similar view to that shown in Fig. 2 butwith the cover plate removed. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of thehead of the stork. Fig. 10 shows another form of the invention in whichthe lower portion of the storks bill is operated by the automatic actionof a weight within the storks head; Fig. 11 shows the same mechanism asFig. 10, but in a different position; Fig. 12 shows still another formin which the lower ortion of the storks bill is operated by't e tensionof a cord;

Fig. 13 shows the same mechanism as Fig. 12, but in a difl'erentposition.

In carrying this invention into effect according to one construction asapplied to a a cigarette presenting device as illustrated-in thedrawings, I provide a stamped metal chest, (1., in which is inserted ametal cigarette container, 6, the bottom of which is tormed in two partssloping from two 0 p0- site sides downward to a slot, 0, at a out thecenter of the container, b, the sides of the slot being formed by thetwo parts of the bottom of the container, 6, being continued as shown inFig. 6. In .the opposite side walls of the container, b, vertical slots,7, are formed which guide a cradle, d, by means of pins, 11., whichproject from the cradle engaging therewith. The cradle, d, may be madein one or more pieces and is V- shaped at its upper end, the cigaretteto be presented resting in the end as shown at c, in Figs'fi and 7.These pins, h,'engage with long slots, at, formed in a pair of pivotedlevers-n, which are connected at their ends by a cross piece, 0, towhich is fixed a handle, p, which projects through a vertical slot, 1',in the outer wall of the chest, at, so that by raising or lowering thishandle, p, which acts as a lever the cradle, d, is raised or lowered inthe container, b. The cigarette container, 6, is secured in position inthe metal chest, a, by any suitable means, those shown in the drawingscomprising screws, .9 and t, passing through the metal chest andscrewing into the container, 12. Over the'metal chest, a, and cigarettecontainer, b, is laced a cover plate, a, secured in position y a screw,u, screwing into a art of the container, b, and by a piece, w, having ahole into which the end of the screw, 8, screws or simply enters.

opening, part ofwhich is closed by a hinged I flap, :19, while the otherpart is closed bye-i plate, the operation of which is hereinafter dhscribed. By lifting up the flap, w, the cigarettes can be placed in thecontainer, 6, as re uired to refill the same.

The p ate, y, is carried on the end of" two segmental levers, a, whichare pivoted at their other ends on a wire, 3, passing through the sidewalls of the container, 6, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6. Theselevers, 2, are also provided with cam slots, 1, in which the pins, h,projecting from the cradle, d, engage. The cam slots, 1, as shown areformed so that during the first part of the upward movement ofthe-cradle,

d, the plate, 3 does not move. Du the farther upward movement of the cxd dl e, d, the plate, y, is moved so as to uncover the 0 ning in thecover plate, a, so that by the tune the cradle, d, has reached itshighest position the plate, 3 will have completely uncovered the openingin said cover late, u. On the downward movement 0 4 the cradle, 03, theplate, y, is held back until the pins, 12., shall engage with the sidesof themoving cradle, d, has performed a definite 1portion of Itsmovement-say about one he f-and when the cradle, 12, has returned to itsinitial position the plate, then completely closes the opening in thecover plate, a. Any other relative movement between the cradle, 12, andthe plate, can be obtained as desired by. va g t e sha e of the camslots, 1. As the-sides of the throughout a cam piece, 2, is fixed on oneor both of the segmental levers, '2, and the end of one or both of thelevers, n, are'inturned to engage therewith so as to insurethat theslots, 1, in the desired manner.

Various positions of the delivery mechan-' ism as obtained with theshape of cam slots, 1, are indicated by full and dotted lines in Figs. 4and 5. Theinitial position in which the plate, 3/, closes the opening inthe cover plate, a, and'the cigarette cradle, d, is at its lowestposition is indicated b the full lines in Fig. 4. If now the leverandle, p, is moved into the position, 1;" shown 1n dotted lines in thesame figure, t e cigarette cradle is raised so that the pins, it,projecting therefrom are in the position indicated at h. Durin thismovement the ins, h, engage ,-with t e r' ht hand side as seen in thedrawings) 0 the cam slots, 1, thus the segmental levers, s, and theplate, 31, so that the opening in the cover plate, u is uncovered. Itwill be noticed t at in this position the inturned end of each of thelevers, n, engages with the right-hand side (as seen from the drawings)of the cum, 2, thus insuring that the pin,

enga' meat with the n hi: and; side of their 8 t, 1. On the continuedmovement of thelQYerhandle, p,'downward as indicated by the arrow,.4,lin Fig. 4, we reach the extreme position indicatedin full lines ,in

ot are not parallel shall keep in Fig. 5. The cigarette cradle, 01, isnow in its uppermost position and the cigarette, e, is inserted in thereceiving element, which as shown is formed as the beak of a stork, thebeak being opened ready in a manner explained herelnafter.

The position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5 is as far as thehandle lever, p, and levers, n, are concerned similar to that shown indotted lines in Fig. 4:, but the pin, h, in engaging withthe differentcontour of the lett hand side (as seen in drawings) of the cam slot, 1,has not moved the segmental levers, z, and the plate, 3 to the sameposition and it will be seen that the inturned end of the levers, n, nowpasses down on the left hand side of-the cam, 2, thus should the levers,z, tend to move. so as to cause the plate, 3 to close the openin plate,a, sooner than 1s desired, they are prevented from so doing by the cam,2, coming up against the inturned end of the lovers, n.

Attached to the underside of the plate, is a bent piece of metal, 5shaped .as shown in Figs. 4 and -6, the upturned edge of which engageswith the beak of the bird to open it as hereinafter described.

Carried by the cover plate, u, is a body,

for example a fi I re representing a stork or the like, which 1s mountedpivotally upon two legs, one, 6, of-which is fixed to a base,,8,'.secured by the screw, :1 to the cover plate, a, while the other, 7}extends throughv the cover plate, a, and is adapted to be operated bymeans hereinafter indicated so as to cause the stork to droop forward tobring the beak of the bird into positionfor receiving the cigarette fromthe cradle, d.

Attached to the back of the cigarette container, b, is a bracket,9,'throu h which passes a rod, 10, the u per end 0 which is providedwith a sma flat piece of metal, 11, forming a table on which the leg),7, of the stork rests. The cross iece 0, w ich connects the lever, n, isforme with a crank like ortion, 12, at or about a point midway etweenits ends. Between the arallel sides of this crank portion is secure inany suitable manner a plate, 13, as shown in Fig. 6, and the other endof the rod, 10, rests on this plate; the plate, 18, ma be made in onewith the cross piece, 0 i desired. Inthe back of the crankul' er tion12, is'a hole,;14, (see Fig.3)into w 1012 the lever .handl p, screws. 7

c When the handle, is in its normal position as indicated in ll lines in4, the stork is held in an upright position b means of the pressure onthe le 7, throng the rod, 10. As however, the audio, p, is moveddownward this pressure is removed and thestork falls forward into theposition shown in Fi 5 and 16 which is that corresponding toe'lowestp'osition of the henin the cover cause dle, p, and the highestposition of the cradle, 03. As the bird is falling forward however, theplate, 3 is being moved so as to uncover the opening in the cover plate,a, and these two movements are so arranged that the beak of the birdenters the Opening before the plate, 3 has fully uncovered it and theupturned edge of the piece of metal, 5, engages with the under part,15,.of the beak of the bird as shown in Fig. 6 and thereby opens 1t. Adetail view of the head of the bird is shown in Fig. 9, and it will beseen that the under part, 15, of the beak which is hinged to the head ismade longer than the u per part, 16, to enable the upturned edge ot thepiece, 5, to engage therewith. A spring, 17, is inserted in a groove inthe head and in a pocket in under part, 15, as. shown so as to keep thebeak normally closed. While the beak is being held open, the cigarette,c, is inserted by the cradle, d, as shown in Fig. 6. -With the shape ofthe cam slot, 1, shown in the drawings, the cigarette. is thrustbetweenthe two parts of the beak against the resistance of the sprin 17When the hand e, p, moves upward, which movement may take place eitherby hand,

gravity or by spring means such as the springs, 18, as shown, the birdis raised to its original upright position wlth the cigarette in itsbeak. The cradle, d, then returns to its lowest position which isslightly below the level of the sloping sides of the bottom of thecontainer, 1). By a slight alteration of the cam slots, 1, it can bearranged if desired, that the under part, 15, of the beak of the bird isdisengaged from the edge of the piece of metal, 5, and is allowed toclose upon the cigarette, e, by the action of the spring, 17. A slot,19, is preferably provided in the cradle, d, for the beak of the birdasshown so that the beakshall be clear of the cradle.

In Figs. 10 and 11 the under part 15 of the storks beak is provided witha Weight located within the storks head and is movable for the urpose ofopening the beak when the stor is inclined, as indicated in Fig. 11, theaction of the weight within the storks head rendering the opening andclosing of the beak to some extent automatic. In the form indicated inFigs. 12 and 13, the portion 15 of the beak is drawn so as to open thebeak by action of a cord 19. When the stork bends over, as indicated inFig. 13 the tension upon the cord 19 increases an the beak opens so asto grasp the cigarette. By this arrangement of vertically rising cradlethe selection and lifting of a cigarette is always assured Whether therebe many or only a few cigarettes in the container. Instead of em loyingan outside lever for operatirigthis evice a push button may be usedconnected'to a lever attached to the cradle device. Y i

In a modified form or this'inventionthe spring controlled beak of thebird may be operated by awire or red 19 passing through i the neck intothe interior of the bird so that as the bird droops forward the wire byenagement with a portion of the leg also pro- 3ecting into the interioris caused to open positively as shown in F' 12 and 13. In this case theooved sli ing plate may be dispensed wit In a further modification shownin Figs. 10 and 11 the under part of the beak may be provided with abalance weight working in the head of the bird, which is made hollow toreceive it. The weight is so arranged that as the bird falls forward toreceive the cigarette the beak shall be opened by ravity.

The movements 0 the bird and cigarette cradle may take placesimultaneously or one after the other or one may start its movement whenthe other has completed more or less of its movement as desired.

It will be understood that although the apparatus has been described asarranged for presenting cigarettes, it may be adapted for other articlessuch as cigars,.matches. sweetmeats, etc. 1

' Having now described my invention what I claim. as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. An automatic presenting device having incombination an article container, a cradle and a. receiving body, levermeans, operable from the ext ior of said device, acting tomove the erale'vertically through said container and simultaneously therewithallowing the receiving body to move under gravity till it meets thecradle and receivesthe article directly therefrom, said lever means onits return raisin the receiving body into a osition suitab e forpresenting the artic e, and lowerin the cradle within the containerintoaposition in which it becomes loaded with another article.

2. An automatic presenting device having in combination a chest, anarticle container, a slot in the bottom of said container, said bottomsloping toward the slot, a cradle in said slot, means to guide, saidcradle vertically within said container,- 8. body mounted on saidpresenting device, a pair of receiving pron attached to bod lever meansopera lc om without sai chest, acting to move the cradle within saidvertical guides and simultaneously allowing the it moves the cradle andreceives the article directly into the prongs of the body, said levermeans on its return raisin the receiv-' ing body into a position suita efor pre senting' the article, and lowering the cradle within thecontainer into a position in which it becomes loaded, with anotherarticle. v

3. An automatic presenting device hav- 120 receiving body to move undergravity until i ing in combination a chest, an article contamer insaid'chest, a cradle and a receiving element, lever means acting toraise said cradle up through the container, an opening in the top ofsaid chest for the passage of the receiving element into the articlecontainer and of the article out therefrom, cammed segmental lever meanscontrolling said opening, said ca'mmed segmental lever means co-actingwith said cradle lever means. I

4. An automatic presenting device havin in combination a chest, anarticle contamer in said chest, a cradle and a receivin element, levermeans acting to raise said cradle up throu hy the container, an openingin the top 0% said chest for the passa e of the receiving element intothe artice container and of the article out therefrom, cammed segmentallever means controlling said opening, said cammed segmental lever Ymeans co-acting with said cradle lever means, means attached to saidcammed segmental lever means acting to open a part of said receivingelement to receive the article from said cradle.

5. An automatic presenting device havin in combination a chest, anarticle contamer in said chest, a slot in the bottom of said container,said bottom sloping toward said slot, a cradle in said slot, insprojecting from said cradle and extending through slots in the oppositeside walls of ..the container, levers pivoted to said container, longslots in one end of said levers engaging with the pins projecting fromsaid cradle, a cross piece connecting said levers, a handle attached tosaid cross iece whereby said levers can be operate segmental leverspivoted at one end to said container, a cam slot in said levers-engagingwith saidpins extending from said cradle, a plate connecting'the otherends of said segmental levers, an opening in the top of said chestcontrolled by said plate, a body mounted on said chest, a pair ofreceiving prongs on said body, means'operated from said cradle raisingmeans for controlling the movements of said body, the various movementsof said cradle and of the plate controlling the opening in the chest andthe body mounted on said chest being arranged so that the receiving pronattached to said body can enter throug said opening to receive thearticle from the cradle when the latter is raised to its highestposition and means acting to open said receiving prongs to receive saidarticle.

6. An automatic presenting device having in combination a chest, anarticle containerv in said'chest, a slot in the bottom of. saidcontainer, said bottom slopin toward said slot, a cradle in said slot,pins projecting .from said cradle and extending through slots in themmosite side walls of the conceases tainer, levers pivoted to saidcontainer, long slots in one end of said levers enga ing with the pinsprojecting from said crad e, a cross piece connecting said levers, ahandle attached to said cross piece whereby said levers can be operated,segmental levers pivoted at one end to said container, a cam slot insaid levers engagin with said pins extending from said crad e, a plateconnecting the other ends of said segmental levers, an openin in the topof said chest controlled by sai plate, a body relpresentin mounted onsaid chest, a eg to sai body by means of which said body is supdporte onsaid chest, a second leg to said he y passing through a hole in saldchest, a bracket on said container, a rod passing through said bracket,said second leg resting on one end of said rod, the other end of saidrod resting on a part of said cross piece to which the handle isattached, whereby the movements of said stork are controlled from themove: ments of said handle.

7 An automatic presenting device having in combination a chest, anarticle container in said chest, a slot in the bottom of said container,said bottom slopin toward said slot, a cradle in said slot, pinsprojecting from said cradle and extending through slots in the oppositeside walls of the container, levers plvoted to said container, longslots in one end of said levers enga ing with the pins projecting fromsaid crad e, a cross piece connecting said levers, a handle attached tosaid cross piece whereby said levers can be operated, segmental leverspivoted at one end to said container, a cam slot in said levers engagingwith said pins extending from said cradle, a plate connecting the otherends of said segmental levers, an opening in the top of said chestcontrolled by said plate, a body mounted on said chest,

a pair of receiving prongs on said body, means operated from said cradleraising means for controlling the movements of said body, the variousmovements of said cradle and of the plate controlling the 0 ening in thechest and the body mounte on said chest being arranged so that thereceiving prongsattached to saidbody can enter through said opening toreceive the article from the cradle when the latter is raised to itshighest position, means attached to the plate controlling the opening insaid chest acting to open said receiving prongs, spring means actlntonormally close said receiving prongs, due article being thrust by thecradle between said prongs against the resistance of said spring means.

8. An automatic presentmg device having a stork in combination a chest,an article container in said chest, a slot in the bottom of saidcontainer, said bottom sloping toward said slot, a cradle in said slot,pins projecting from said cradle and extending through slots in theopposite side walls of the container, levers pivoted to said container,longslots in one end of said levers engaging with the pins projectingfrom said cradle, a cross piece connecting said levers, ahandle attachedto said cross piece whereby said levers can be operated, segmentallevers ivoted at one end to said container, a cam s 0t in said levers enaging with said pins extending from said cradle, a plate connecting theother ends of said segmental levers, an 0 ening in the top of said chestcontrolle by said plate, a body mounted on said chest,a pair ofreceiving prongs on said body, means operated from said cradle raisinmeans for controlling the movements of sald body the various movementsof saidcradle and oi the when the latter is raised to its highest(posiplate controlling the opening in the chest and the body mounted onsaid chest being arran ed so that the receiving prongs attache to saidbody can enter through said opening to receive the article from thecradle tion, said prong opening means being a apted to allow said springmeans to close said prongs on the article after said article is inserted between them by said cradle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my nameto this specificationin the presence of the two subscribin witnesses.

NOEL RA STILES. Witnesses:

W. G. Brsnor DowLmo, H. D. JAMESON.

